K A S H R U T . C O M_©

November 4, 2026 from the Montreal Gazette:

"The owner of a Montreal bakery targeted by two arson attempts in less than 48 hours says she fears the attacks were motivated by antisemitism after a second fire left her family business destroyed.

"Montreal police assigned their hate crimes unit to investigate the incidents at Mimimelon on St-Louis St., citing the bakery’s ties to the Jewish community.

"The latest fire broke out around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, leaving what owner Jennie Volfson described as a total loss. No injuries were reported.

"The first incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. Monday, when Volfson received an alert from her security company about someone tampering with a rear door.

"She said surveillance footage showed a person attempting to enter the bakery before throwing liquid against the building’s exterior, setting it on fire and fleeing.

"Firefighters responded quickly, preventing the flames from spreading inside. Volfson said she provided the footage to police.

"Police spokesperson Raphaël Bergeron said there were indications that the fire had been deliberately set and described damage to the building as “considerable.” Investigators will examine local surveillance cameras in an effort to determine the circumstances leading up to the fire.

"She said an unidentified person had opened the bakery’s door in mid-September and shouted, “All the Jews will burn,” before leaving. The person’s face was covered and the encounter was not captured on surveillance footage, she added.

"Volfson bought Mimimelon in January 2015 and runs the family business with her husband and father-in-law.

"The kosher bakery specializes in peanut-free, tree-nut-free and dairy-free products, serving customers with food allergies as well as Montreal’s Jewish community."